Under the new free agent compensation system as part of the new collective-bargaining agreement, in order for a team to receive compensation for a player lost in free agency, the team had to make a one-year offer worth at least the annual average of the top 125 free agents from the previous winter. This year's number was $13.3 million. Dayn Perry explained it all earlier this offseason.

Eight of the nine players listed chose to explore free agency instead of signing the qualifying offer. The other, Ortiz, re-signed with the Red Sox for a two-year deal worth $26 million.